2. Overview of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

2.1 Description of the Gardens, its Functions and Values

Occupying a 90 hectare site on the lower slopes of Black Mountain in Canberra,
the Australian National Botanic Gardens is a major scientific, educational and
recreational resource. The location of the Gardens and adjacent sites is shown
at Figure 1. It was one of the first botanic gardens in the world to adopt the
study and display of indigenous species as a principal goal.

One third of the known flowering plant species that occur in Australia are
represented. This is a significant achievement in Canberras cold climate.
The Gardens plant displays are grouped into three basic themes:

taxonomic - displaying the diversity of plant life according to their botanical
relationships;

ecological and geographic - displaying groups of species from similar ecological
and geographic areas; and

horticultural - displaying plants which promote an appreciation of the horticultural
values of native flora.

Most of the plants are grown in open-ground beds. Plants that cannot be grown
outdoors are grown in glasshouses and plant pots. A nursery complex, including
glasshouses, is used to propagate most plants grown at the Gardens.

The developed section of the Gardens is zoned (see Figure 2) to allow for consolidated
development of buildings and necessary infrastructure. Zoning also provides
for a vegetation buffer zone between the Gardens and the adjacent Canberra Nature
Park and landscape zones along the Gardens other boundaries. The developed section
of the Gardens is also listed on the Register of the National Estate. Section
8 discusses site development in further detail.

The Gardens herbarium collections, together with those of the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Plant Industry, form
the Australian National Herbarium, managed by the Centre for Plant Biodiversity
Research (CPBR). The herbarium is a major scientific resource consisting of
around 1 265 000 specimens. Over 90% of the specimens are directly related to
the study of the Australian flora, while others serve as records of naturalised
species, weeds and plants in cultivation. The CPBRs collections include
preserved plant specimens and their associated collection data.

Importantly, the herbarium also provides the scientific authentication for
plants growing at the Gardens. The herbarium specimens and data, together with
the Gardens living collection and the data held on it, provide a major
scientific resource for plant scientists, both nationally and internationally.

The Gardens living and herbarium collections are complemented by a significant
collection of well-documented photographs of Australian native plants and their
habitats. Collections of living plants, seeds and herbarium specimens of plants
known to be at risk of extinction in the wild are maintained as part of the
Gardens contribution to plant conservation activities. A public reference
herbarium is also maintained by the CPBR. Other specialist facilities on the
Gardens site include a horticultural research laboratory, horticultural depots
and a library.

The Gardens conducts its own research programs, mainly through the CPBR. Special
interest areas include the horticultural development of Australian plants, and
the classification of mosses, lichens, orchids, grevilleas, pea-flowers and
tea trees. Major programs in recent years have included botanical data and information
management, together with use of the Web as a tool to extend the dissemination
of scientific and general information.

The Gardens is a major visitor destination for local, interstate and international
visitors and it is an active participant in tourism programs. The Gardens also
serves as a cultural and recreational venue. Concerts, theatre and dance performances
and displays of art works have all proved to be popular attractions as have
interpreted walks. A range of visitor facilities is provided including a Visitor
Centre, Education Centre, café and shop.

Educational and community involvement programs at the Gardens cover a broad
range of interests. Programs for educational organisations attract nearly 20
000 visits per year and a range of educational materials is produced for use
on-site and off-site.

A program of exhibitions, practical demonstrations and lectures, publications
and signs covering general and special interest topics have all contributed
to the Gardens informal learning environment.

A chronology of significant events in the development of the Gardens is at
Appendix 3.

2.2 Significance of the Gardens

National and International Significance

The Gardens contribute to Australias role in promoting the objectives
of various international environment conventions.

In particular, the Convention on Biological Diversity recognises the importance
of botanic gardens in ex situ conservation, in situ conservation,
research, training, plant identification and monitoring, public awareness raising,
access to genetic resources and global cooperation in relation to sustainable
use of plant biodiversity. Relevant Articles of the Convention are at Appendix
4.

The Gardens also supports Australias obligations under other such conventions
as the:

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change done at New York on
9 May 1992 (Convention on Climate Change), by promoting education, training
and public awareness on the importance of sustaining plant biodiversity;

Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage
done at Paris, 23 November 1972 (World Heritage Convention), mainly by supporting
the network of listed sites through research, plant collections, horticultural
and educational programs;

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl
Habitat done at Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971 (Ramsar Convention), particularly
in relation to cultivation and conservation of rare and endangered aquatic
plants; and

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora done at Washington on 3 March 1973 (CITES), particularly in relation
to codes of practice on plant trade.

The Gardens maintains collaborative links with several key international organisations
including the:

International Association of Botanic Gardens;

International Association of Plant Taxonomists;

International Plant Propagators Society;

International Union of Biological Sciences - Taxonomic Databases Working
Group;

International Organisation for Plant Information World Vascular Plant Checklist
Project; and

International Society for Horticultural Science

The Gardens collections are used by a wide range of scientists, in Australia
and internationally, for research into the biology and taxonomy of Australian
plants. In addition, Gardens staff share their technical expertise with
other countries such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Zealand and
Pacific Island nations.

The Australian Cultivar Registration Authority is responsible internationally
for the registration of cultivated varieties derived from Australian plants.
It is based at the Gardens - as is the national office of the Australian Network
for Plant Conservation, which links scientific and community organisations with
an interest in plant conservation.

The Gardens is a leader in the development of standards for botanical information
storage and exchange, and acts as custodian for a number of national botanical
data sets.

The high quality of the Gardens landscape was recognised in 1991 by inclusion
of the developed part of the Gardens on the Register of the National Estate,
as the Gardens provides outstanding examples of landscape design and horticulture
using Australian native plants.

Local and Regional Activities

In promoting the tourist and educational aspects of the Gardens, close liaison
is maintained with the following bodies:

National Capital Attractions Association;

Canberra Events and Tourism Corporation;

Australian Education Council;

Canberra Region Tourist Operators Association;

Environment Education Association of Australia; and

International Council of Museums (ICOM) Marketing and Public Relations Committee.

The Gardens participates in regional conservation projects where it can offer
suitable expertise on sustainable management or horticultural requirements of
Australian plants. The Gardens also acts as an information resource for native
flower industries, assisting with advice on managing native flower crops or
providing ideas on the development of new cultivars for export.

The Gardens has worked cooperatively with the local Aboriginal Ngunnawal group
and has hosted activities to celebrate the National Aboriginal and Islander
Day of Commemoration (NAIDOC) week.

2.3 Visitors, Stakeholders and Partnerships

The Gardens is a major visitor destination used extensively by local residents
and tourists. It provides beautifully landscaped environments in which visitors
are encouraged to learn about and enjoy Australias flora. About 350 000
people visit the Gardens each year, the peak months being January and October.
Approximately 6,000 pages are accessed from the Gardens website each day.

Studies of visitor use, experiences and perceptions of the Gardens, and opinions
about management options for the future were undertaken in 1987, 1992 and 1998.
The results of the 1998 survey of visitors are summarised at Appendix 5.

Visitors to the Gardens are perhaps the most visible stakeholders. However,
a wide range of organisations and institutions are also involved with the Gardens
- locally, nationally and internationally (refer also to Section 2.2).

As a national institution managed by a Commonwealth Government agency, the
Australian National Botanic Gardens has a responsibility to work cooperatively
with other organisations to further its aims. Gardens staff liaise and work
with organisations involved in the management of botanic gardens, herbaria and
plant conservation. The Gardens is committed to making available its expertise
and to disseminating the information it has acquired.

The Gardens encourages collaborative links in all its research and horticultural
activities, particularly through the CPBR. There are many collaborative projects
with other areas of both Environment Australia and CSIRO, as well as national
and international organisations and individuals. The Gardens also contributes
to the knowledge and skills base through active Visiting Scientist, Student
Botanical Internship and Herbarium & Seedbank Volunteer programs.

Collaborative Links

Collaborative links include the following organisations and groups.

Environment Australia

Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS);

Threatened Species and Communities Section (TSCS); and

Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN).

CSIRO

Division of Entomology;

Division of Forestry;

Division of Sustainable Ecosystems;

Division of Land and Water; and

Tree Seed Centre.

National

Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria and its committees such as the Australian
Herbarium Information Systems Committee

Australia Flora Foundation;

Society for Growing Australian Plants;

Plant Breeders Rights Office;

Australian Systematic Botany Society; and

Greening Australia

Cooperative Partnerships

In addition to the collaborative links listed above, the Gardens has cooperative
partnerships with four bodies whose offices or secretariats are based at the
Gardens.

Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens

The Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens comprises the eight Directors
from Australias major botanic gardens, one from each State and Territory.
This organisation provides the basis for cooperation and exchange of information
between major botanic gardens and the many regional gardens. The Gardens hosts
the organisations website, known as the Australian Botanic Gardens Forum.

Australian Network for Plant Conservation

The Australian Network for Plant Conservation draws together a wide range of
botanic gardens, public and private land management bodies, and individuals
with an interest in endangered plants. Activities include cultivation of endangered
plants, exchanging information, provision of training on conservation and assisting
with research into endangered plants. The Gardens also hosts the Networks
website.

Australian Cultivar Registration Authority

The Australian Cultivar Registration Authority (ACRA) comprises a national
committee with representatives from the Gardens, all the major State and Territory
botanic gardens, the Nursery Industry Association of Australia, and the Society
for Growing Australian Plants. The Authority registers cultivated varieties
of Australian plants in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature
for Cultivated Plants. It also encourages horticultural development of Australian
plants. The Gardens hosts the Authoritys website. The Gardens, through
the ACRA, also houses herbarium specimens for the Plant Breeders Rights Office.

Friends of the Gardens

The Friends of the Australian National Botanic Gardens is the community support
group for the Gardens. The Friends aim to increase community awareness of the
scientific, educational, recreational and conservation roles of the Gardens
as well as to raise funds to support these roles. They have an active program
of activities for members and several special interest sub-groups. Many members
contribute their time as volunteers in a range of Gardens projects (see also
Section 5.7).

2.4 Summary of Previous Management Plan Achievements

The following points summarise the major achievements against the objectives
of the 19941999 Australian National Botanic Gardens Management Plan.

Studying Australian Plants

The CPBR was formed by combining the staff and collections of the Gardens
herbarium and CSIRO herbarium, to produce the Australian National Herbarium,
one of the largest herbarium collections in Australia. A purpose built facility
was constructed on the adjacent CSIRO site to house the Centre.

Information from the Australian Plant Name Index and from the living
collections and Gardens plant photograph collection was made available
on the Web.

The Gardens Horticultural Research Unit completed several major projects
in sustainable use of Australian plants.

Growing Australian Plants

Nursery production and plant-out increased, averaging around 15 000 plants
per year.

Many of the recommendations of the Australian National Botanic Gardens Development
Planning Guide were implemented to a greater or lesser extent, largely dependent
on resource levels. Visitor facilities and horticultural displays, particularly
in the Clunies Ross Street entrance and carpark, the central core zone and
the high visitation areas, were upgraded, with particular emphasis on the
establishment of a no-steps main path throughout the major thematic displays.
A Tasmanian alpine and heath theme and Sydney basin flora theme were completed
and the rock garden was extended and improved.

Fire security measures for the living collections and the Gardens herbarium
collection were improved.

Planning was completed for a combined horticultural and trades depot and
a new nursery but sufficient funds were not available for their construction
and the project was deferred.

Promoting Australian Plants

The Gardens educational programs had strong emphasis on conservation
and sustainable management of Australian plants. Around 20 000 students access
the programs annually, either at the Gardens or through the Web.

Two major exhibitions on rare and endangered species occurred including
the Its a Rare Thing exhibit, as well as several smaller
displays on Australias plant heritage.

The Aboriginal Plant Use Walk through the Gardens was re-routed
following the completion of the Main Path. A students activity walk
and booklet on Aboriginal Plant Use in South-Eastern Australia
was produced.

A comprehensive visitor survey was completed in 1998.

Through participation in the National Capital Attractions Association and
other regional and national tourism bodies, staff played an active part in
promoting the Gardens and the national capital as a prime tourist attraction.

The Friends Group expanded its activities and a recruitment drive in 1998
saw the number of volunteers substantially increase.

The use of volunteers in the public programs of the Gardens was expanded,
with several intakes of voluntary guides and the establishment of an explainers
group to assist with school programs. Volunteers also participated in horticultural
research programs, the Seedbank and in the herbarium.

The Gardens was an active participant in the Council of Heads of Australian
Botanic Gardens and maintained the website for the Australian Botanic Gardens
Forum on behalf of the Council. Active participation was also maintained in
the Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria. The Gardens published the third
edition of the Directory of Australian Botanic Gardens and Arboreta
and also published it on the web.

The Gardens maintained an active role in developing and promoting national
and international standards for the exchange of botanical data through involvement
with the Australian Herbarium Information Systems Committee (HISCOM). Through
the CPBR, national botanical data sets such as the Census of Australian
Vascular Plants and the Australian Plant Name Index were enhanced
and made available to the international community through the Web. Gardens
staff at the Centre also worked with herbaria at the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew (UK) and with Harvard University (USA) to generate a worldwide list of
plant names.

Policy and Management

A biodiversity conservation policy for the Gardens was completed. It emphasises
the importance of an integrated approach.

A review of staff requirements in relation to available salaries funding
resulted in some staff reductions over the life of the Plan. A reorganisation
of duties and procedures created efficiencies in some areas. The use of contractors
was expanded to cover areas such as tree surgery and some repairs and maintenance
services.

Operational funding was sufficient to meet the basic requirements of the
Gardens, while capital works funding allowed progress in redeveloping the
Gardens glasshouses, improving visitor access and undertaking several medium-scale
landscape developments. The Gardens herbarium was refurbished to improve fire
safety standards and to consolidate the collections of cryptogams and conifers.

2.5 Mission and Purposes

2.5.1 Mission

Consistent with Environment Australias vision of a natural and
cultural environment, valued, enhanced and protected in harmony with the nations
social and economic goals and its mission of National leadership
in the protection and conservation of the environment; the mission
of the Australian National Botanic Gardens is: to grow, study and promote
Australian plants.

This meets the requirements the EPBC Act. The Gardens mission is consistent
with the purposes for which the Gardens were established (see Foreword) and
the Australian IUCN reserve management principles applicable to the Gardens
as an IUCN category IV protected area (see Section 1.6 and Appendix 2)

2.5.2 Objectives

To achieve the stated mission, the Gardens will strive to:

1. achieve excellence in the presentation of the Gardens to enable people
of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy and appreciate the values
of Australian plants and botanic gardens;

2. maintain and enhance integrated living, herbarium and photographic
collections of Australian plants, supported by the library collection;

3. provide high quality information and an educational resource for government,
industry, scientific institutions and the community;

4. conduct and encourage research using the Gardens living and herbarium
collections;

5. foster understanding of the origins and values(*1) of Australias
plant biodiversity, while promoting its protection, conservation and wise
use;

6. provide a national focus for, and work in effective partnership with,
other organisations in matters concerning botanic gardens, herbaria and Australian
plant biodiversity; and

7. maintain an accountable, innovative and receptive organisation that
is responsive to clients and new circumstances and which values staff contributions.

*1  values should be read as including environmental,
cultural, economic, heritage and aesthetic values.